Switch



June 21, 1938. 'M FAULKNR 2,121,124

SWITCH Filed July 15, 1937 Z'Sheets-Sheet l ull all]

. Z4 ickael Faulkner INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

June 21, 1938. M. FAULKNER 2,121,124

SWITCH Filed July 15, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 INVEN'TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

flickaelfmzkrzen Patented June 21, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE SWITCH Application July 15, 1937, Serial No. 153,835

2 Claims.

This invention aims to provide a novel selector switch, under the control of an operator, whereby any one instrumentality of two groups of electrical devices on an automobile may be cut out when grounded or shorted, the other instrumentalities of that group remaining in working order: statement which will be understood more clearly when the structure is described in detail.

It is within the province of the disclosure to improve generally and to enhance the utility of devices of that type to which the present invention appertains.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 in a diagram illustrating one of the many uses to which the device forming the subject matter of this application may be put;

2 a front elevation of the switch forming the subject matter of this application;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3--i of Fig. 2;

i is a front elevation wherein parts have been sectioned away.

Referring first to Fig. 1, in order that the advantages of the device hereinafter discribed may be clearly understood, there is shown in that figure two groups of electrical devices used on a motor car. One of these groups is employed, or is likely to be employed, at any time. That group comprises an ignition mechanism 2, a horn 5 under the control of a switch l0, and stop and go lights l under the control of a switch 8, usually assembled with the brake pedal. The other group, which is likely to be used after nightfall only, comprises headlights l and 4, cluster lights 3 on the instrument board of the vehicle, and tail lights 5 under the control of a switch 9.

As stated in the opening portion of this specification, the invention aims to provide a selector switch, under the control of an operator, whereby any instrumentality of either group may be out out when grounded or shorted, and still have the other instrumentalities of that group in working order.

For the purpose of making manifest the utility of the selector switch hereinafter described and claimed, it is necessary to refer to one member only of each group, the horn 5 being chosen as typical of the group likely to be used under all conditions, and the headlight 4 being chosen as typical of the group likely to be used after nightfall only.

The selector switch forming the subject matter of this application comprises a disk-like base ii, made of insulating material. The base ll carries first switch terminals, denoted as a group by the numeral l2. The first switch terminals i2 are arranged in a circle. Of the switch terminals I'Z, two only need be noted, to Wit, the terminals l4 and I5, the switch terminal it because it is connected to a grounded conductor l6 wherein the headlight t is interposed, and the terminal l5 because it is somewhat longer than the other terminals of the group I2.

The base ll carries second switch terminals denoted as a group by the numeral ii. The switch terminals l! are arranged in a circle of smaller diameter than the circle in which the first terminals l2 are located. Of the second switch terminals ll, two, only, need receive attention, namely, the switch terminal 18, which is connected by a conductor 59 to the horn 5, the horn switch Ill being interposed in the said conductor; and the terminal 28, characterized by the fact that it is longer than the other terminals of the group under consideration.

The terminals i5 and 29 are connected by a conductor 2!, in which the switch 9 is interposed. Branched off from the conductor 2i a conductor 22, in which is interposed an ammeter 23, and a signal 26 which operates when any of the instrumentalities of either group, for instance the horn 5 or the lamp i, is grounded or shorted. The conductor 22 leads to a source of electrical energy 25, such as a battery, and in the conductor 22, a main cutout switch 25 is interposed.

Continuing the description of the selector switch, and noting Figs. 2, 3 and ll, it will be observed that a main shaft 2i is journaled in the switch base H, the shaft 2i having, also, a longitudinal movement in the base. On the rear end of the shaft 21 there is an abutment, such as a nut and washer 28. A compression spring 29 surrounds a part of the shaft 21, the rear end of the spring engaging the abutment 28 and the forward end of the spring engaging a washer 30, which is pressed against the rear surface of the switch base II. On its forward end, the shaft 21 has a turning head 3 l.

Journaled on the main shaft 21 is an auxiliary shaft 32, of tubular form, the shaft abutting against the head 3| on the shafts 21 and 32 having an outstanding turning disk 33. The shaft 32 is formed of insulating material and is supplied at its rear end with a disk-like body 34. A conducting member 35 is provided, and may be called a first conducting member, since it cooperates with the first switch terminals I2. The conducting member 35 has a dead area 36, which may be a gap in the ring, as shown in Fig. 2. The conducting member 35 may be connected by resilient spokes 31 with a hub 38 secured to the shaft 32, the spokes 3'I resting against the disklike body 34 on the shaft 32.

A second conducting member 39, of less diameter than the conducting member 35, is provided, and is adapted to make contact with the second switch contacts IT. The second conducting member 39 is in the form of a disk, connected by resilient spokes 4D to a hub 4| secured at 42 to the shaft 21, but insulated therefrom, the spokes 40 having contact with the body 34 of the shaft 32. The second conducting member 39 is provided with a dead or insulating space 43, which may be a gap in the ring or conducting member 39. The spoke and ring construction shown in connection with the conducting members 35 and 39 is not insisted upon. The function of the spring 29 is to draw the shaft 21 rearwardly, along with the shaft 32, thereby causing the conducting member 35 to have engagement with the contacts I2 and to cause the conducting member 39 to have engagement with the contacts IT. The contact I5 of the outer annular group is long enough to bridge the gap 36 in the ring 35, and the contact 20 of the inner annular group is long enough to bridge the gap 43 in the ring 39.

In practical operation, the current fiows from the battery 25 through the conductor 22 and the conductor 2I to the terminal 20 and thence into the conducting member 39 and the terminal I9. From the terminal IS, the current flows by way of the conductor l9 to the horn 5. If the horn 5 is shorted or grounded, the shaft 21 is turned by means of the disk 3i until the terminal I8 is in the gap 43 of the conducting member 39 as shown in Fig. 4. The other electrical instrumentalities which are operated through the conducting member 39, namely the ignition mechanism 2 and the stop and go lights I, are not affected, because their switch terminals I I are still engaged with the conducting member 39.

If, for instance, the headlight 4 becomes grounded or shorted, that instrumentality may be cut out by rotating the shaft 32 by means of the head 33 until the terminal I4 is in the gap 36 as shown in Fig. l. The other instrumentalities which are fed by way of the conducting member 35 obviously will not be affected. Since the elongated terminal I5 bridges the gap 36 in the conducting member 35, and since the elongated terminal 29 bridges the gap Q3 in the conducting member 39 there will be no interruption of current flow through the conducting members 35 and 39 when they are rotated.

When any of the electrical devices fail, the signal 24 will notify the operator of that fact Owing to the fact that the diagram shown in Fig. l is simple, and since it is the switch which does the work, a lengthy tracing out of the circuits is considered unnecessary.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not restricted to use on automobiles but may be applied to any device using a multiplicity of circuits.

What is claimed is:

1. A switch comprising a base, a main shaft mounted to rotate on the base, an auxiliary shaft mounted to rotate on the main shaft, means under the control of an operator for rotating the shafts individually, a first conducting member rotatable with the auxiliary shaft and having an insulating space, a second conducting member rotatable with the main shaft and of less diameter than the first conducting member, the second conducting member having an insulating space, first contacts arranged substantially in a circle on the base and engaging the first conducting member, all but one of the first contacts being narrower than the insulating space of the first conducting member, and said one of the first contacts being long enough to bridge the insulating space of the first conducting member, second contacts arranged substantially in a circle of less diameter than that of the first-specified circle and engaging the second conducting member, all but one of the second contacts being narrower than the insulating space of the second conducting member, and said one of the second contacts being long enough to bridge the insulating space of the second conducting member, and means for supplying cur rent to each of said longer contacts.

2. A switch comprising a base, a main shaft mounted to rotate and to move endwise in the base, an auxiliary shaft mounted to rotate on the main shaft, both shafts being rotatable at the will of an operator, means for holding the auxiliary shaft against endwise movement independently of the main shaft, a first conducting member rotatable with the auxiliary shaft and having an insulating space, a second conducting member rotatable with the main shaft and of less diameter than the first conducting member, the second conducting member having an insulating space, first contacts arranged substantially in a circle on the base and engaging the first conducting member, all but one of the first contacts being narrower than the insulating space of the first conducting member, and said one of the first contacts being long enough to bridge the insulating space of the first conducting member, second contacts arranged on the base substantially in a circle of less diameter than that of the first-specified circle and engaging the second conducting member, all but one of the second contacts being narrower than the insulating space of the second conducting member, and said one of the second contacts being long enough to bridge the insulating space of the second conducting member, means for supplying current to each of said longer contacts, and spring means cooperating with the base and with the main shaft, to move the shafts endwise and rearwardly, thereby to cause the first conducting member to engage the first con tacts and to cause the second contact member to engage the second contacts.

MICHAEL FAULKNER. 

